Posthole auger



N. WILBER AND W. FRITZE.

POSTHOLE AUGER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 27. I921.

1,41 ,395. Patented Apr. 4, 1922.

Nelson W'LLbar Will-i. am fFiiza NELSON WILBER em) WILLIAM memos DREWSEY, onneon.

POSTLHZOLE AUGER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 27, 1921. Serial NO. 487,878.

ToaZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, NELSON TILBER and TVILLIAM Fnrrzn, citizens of the United States, residing at Drewsey, in the county of Harney and State of Oregon, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Posthole Augers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain improvements in post-hole augers and it is an object of the invention to provide a device of this general character embodying novel and improved means whereby the same may be adjusted or set to bore holes of different diameters in accordance with the necessities of practice.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved device of this general character so constructed that it will bore in substantially any soil and which includes blades provided with points or bits operating to loosen the gravel so that it will pass upwardly between the blades and wherein the blades are provided with cutting edges to sever roots or the like of reasonable size, such as hazel brush or sage brush as may be encountered during a working operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved device of this general character which, in addition to being particularly adapted for use in boring a posthole or the like, may be employed to advan-' tage for cleaning out holes which are too small or too deep for an ordinary shovel.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of our improved post-hole auger whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of our invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that our invention may be the better understood, we will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the ac companying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a. view in elevation, with portions broken away, of an auger constructed in accordance with an embodiment of our invention;

Figure 9. is an enlarged sectional View taken substantially on the line 2--2 of Figure 1; f

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional View taken substantially on the line 33 of Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 1. y

As disclosed in the accompanying draw- .ings, 1 denotes an elongated member or rod herein disclosed as angular in cross section and which has secured to its lower end portion a cross head 2. The cross head 2 at its opposite end portions is provided therethrough with the openings 3, said openings having their axes converging in a direction outwardly of the head 2 with the walls thereof convex in cross section.

Slidably disposed through the openings 3 are the rods 4 converging at all times in a direction toward the head 2 and which terminate outwardly of the 'head 2 in the laterally disposed extensions 4 The extensions 4 are continued'b'y the forwardly directed arms 5 which are riveted or otherwise fiXed to the blades B. The opposite end portions of the rods 4: are inwardly inclined,

Patented Apr. 4, 1922.

as at e1, with the extremities of said inclined portions pivotally engaged, as at 6, with the opposite end portions of a cross member 7. The cross member 7 is slidably mounted upon the rod or member 1 and the inovement of said member 7 along the member or rod 1 in a direction away from the cross head 2 is limited by a pin 8 or the like insertible through one of a series of longitudinally spaced'openings 9 disposed through the rod or memberl.

Each of the blades B is of a spoon formation withits concave face inwardly disposed and the lower extremity of said blade is provided with a point 10 and a heel 1 1. The blade B has its forward longitudinal margin entirely therealong formed into a knife or cutting edge.

The greater the extent of movement of the cross member 7 inwardly of the rod or member 1, the greater the separation of the blades B and the diameter of'the bore of the opening and vice versa.

When the device is set for a working open 7 ation, the blades 13 automatically separate to the desired extent due to the separation of the rods 4; as the cross head 2 moves downwardly thereof. As the rod or member 1 is rotated, the blades B effectively cut the earth while the cutting or knife edges of said blades permit the same to readily penetrate roots or like obstructions. During this op eration, the point 10 loosens the earth while the heel 11 serves to elevate the loosened earth between the blades B and thereby revent the points 10 from clogging. W hen the space between the blades is substantiallyfilled by loosened earth or the like, pull is imposed upon the member or rod 1 whereupon the blades B will automatically grip such loosened earth or the like and press the same between the blades so that said vantage in the cleanin 'out of holes when rock or the like has been loosenedby a diggi-ng bar and when such holes are too small or too deep for the usual shovel.

Toffaci'litate the operation of the device, we have slidably engaged with the outer or upper end portion of the rod or member l a sleeve 19 provided with the oppositely directed handle members 14. The sleeve 12 is held in desired position upon the memberorrod 1 by a pin 15 which is adapted to be inserted through the sleeve 12 and one" ofthe series of: longitudinally spaced openh1g8 1% provided in the member or rod 1.

the foregoin description it is thought to be obvious that a post-hole auger constructed in accordance with our inventio-n is particularly well adapted for use lWl maeon of the convenience and facility \vi-thvivhich it may be assembled: and operatedgand it will" also be obvious that our invention is susceptible of some change and modifications without departing from the principles and spirit thereof, and for this reason we .do not wish toubo understood as limiting ourselves to the precise arraaigement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out our invention in practiceexcept as hereinafter claimed We claim:

Am auger of the class described comprising, an elongated member, a cross mom- I berslidabily engagedtherewith, rods pivotalPyi engaged with: said slidable member, a cross head carried by saidfirst namedmember adjacent an end thereof, said rods being) slidwbl disposed through said cross headband; lades carried by the rods out wardly ofthe crosshead.

27. An anger of the class described comour signatures.

of the cross head, and means for limiting the movement of the cross member along the first named member in a direction away from the cross head.

3*. Ananger of the class described corn prising an elongated member-,a cross member slidably engaged therewith, rods pivotally engaged with said slidable member a cross head carried by said first named member adjacent an-end thereof, said rods being slidabl v disposed through saidcross hcad and blades carried by the'rods outwardly oi the cross head, said blades being of substantial spoon" formation with their convex faces opposedi auger of the class described comprising an elongated member, a cross member sl-idably engaged therewith, rods pivotally engaged with said slidable member, a cross lheadcarried by said first named member-adjacent an end" thereof, said rods being slidably disposed through. said cross head, and blades carried the rods outwardly of the crosshead, said blades being of substantial spoon formation with their convex faces opposed, the outer end portion of each of said blades being provided \vithan inwardly directed point.

An auger of the class described comlprising an elongated member, a cross member slidably engaged therewith, rods pivotally engaged with said slidab'le member, a cross head carriedby said first named member adjacentan end thereof, said rods bein -Jidably disposed through said cross heat, blades carried by the rods outwardly of the cross head, said blades being of substantial spoon: formation with their convexfaces opposerhthe outer end portion of each'of said blades being provided with an in-' war'dly directed point. and an elevating heel msitioned adjacent the point,

0. an anger of the class described com prising an'elongaterll member, across mem ber slidably engaged therewitln rods pivotally engaged, with said slidable' member, a

cross head carried by said first named member adjacent an en head; and blades "carried by the rods out- Wardly of the cross head, said rods converging in a; direction toward the cross head. V a

In: testimony whereof we hereuntoafiix a NELSON WILBER:

Y '7WILLIAMFRITZE.

thereof, said-rodsbe- 111g slidably disposed through said cross 

